Well flowing device



Feb. 3, 1942. E; L. BARKER 2,271,535

WELL FLOWING DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' I Ema-Z 454%:

' INVENTOR 5 ATTORN Feb. 3, 1942. E. L. BARKER 2,271,535

WELL FLOWING DEVICE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 2 I Z0 INVENTOR.

E ATTOfi s Feb. 3, 1942. E. BARKER 2,271,535

WELL FLOWING DEVICE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 fmesZL 547% mvamon 'ATTORNEY? Feb. 3, 1942. E. L. BARKER- 2,271,535

' WELL FLOWING DEVICE I Filed Aug. 3, 1940 L4 SheetLs-Sheet 4 I9 7f I INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 3,1942

WELL FLOWING DEVICE. Ernest L. Barker, Houston, Tex. Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,325

11 Claims.

This invention relates to well flowing devices, and more particularly-to devices which may be used on oil or gas wells and which are operable to cut off the flow when said flow exceeds a predetermined velocity. In my previously filed application, Serial No. 234,128, filed October 10,

1938, now Patent No. 2,233,077 granted I de-' scribed a cut-off device which, broadly, performs this function, and the present invention concerns an improvement on said device.

Where the cut-off device described in my previous application is used in above ground or well head connections, such as the structure commonly referred to as a Christmas tree, it is obviously desirable to provide some means for closing off the how through the main line or through any of the branches at will. This is necessary to permit replacement'or repairing of connections, etc. The gate valves customarily employed for this purpose are cumbersome and involve a multiplicity of connections in addition to being expensive.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a means whereby the gate valves or the like customarily employed may be dispensed with.

It is a further object to provide a means for controlling my automatic cut-oii' valve, so that it can be caused to open or close at the will of the operator.

Fig. '1 is a section takenalong the line 1-1 of Fig. 6. Y

Referring to the drawings in detail, a casing head III has a flangev coupling H which supports theChristmas tree organization. This comprises an upright portion 2 and an integral cross l3 which is coupled to the two lead-ofi connections l4. Referring to-Figs. 1 and 5, the upright portion I2. is threaded internally toreceive abushing l5 which carries a valve housing I6 and an automatic valve structure similar to that set out in my aforementioned previous application, the valve plunger being shown at H.

The operation of this'automatic valve is such that, when the velocity of the fluid therethrough reaches a certain point, the plunger I1 closes against its seat on the bushing l5 to cut 011' the flow. On the other hand, when the pressure which holds the plunger closed drops to a predetermined value, the plunger is forced by a spring to open position.

As maybe seen more clearly in Fig. 3, each of the lead-off connections l4 carries an automatic valve organization l8, as described above, therein.

- is smaller in the lead off connections, but in Another object of this invention is to facilitate the use and operation of oil well. connections utilizing my automatic cut-off valves.

Another object is to provide a control mean for causing such an automatic cut-off valve to open and close at the will of the operator, thereby Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken along line 33 of Fig'. 1; i

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken along line 5+5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a slight modification; and

contraction the valves may be identical.

The lead oif connections include a pressure chamber l9 (see Fig. 3) and a flow pipe 20, with a "choke 2| therebetween. The flow pipe is connected to the pressure chamber by being threaded into an enlarged portion 22, and said enlarged portion is formed with ducts 23 which lead to the space between the choke 2| and the flow pipe 20. The ducts also communicate, by means of apertures 24, with a valve seat 25 in the pressure chamber l9. Thus, when the valve seat is unobstructed, fluid may flow from the chamber I9 through the ducts 23 and into the flow pipe 20, by-passing the small bore of the choke 2|, and greatly increasing the velocity of flow past the valve I8, thus closing this valve.

While the flow is thus stopped, connections may be replaced or repaired, etc. or any desired operation may be performed at any point downstream from the valve 8. In order to provide access to the chamber I9, the manually operable valve 26 may be removed by unscrewing a collar 30. This will permit ready removal and replacement of the choke 2| if desired. 7

When it is desired to cause the automatic valve It to open and permit the flow of the fluid through the lead-off again, a needle valve 3|, screw-threaded inside the hollow valve stem 26 and operated by a hand wheel 32, is utilized. -By turning the hand wheel 32, the needle valve 3| is caused to enter and close the bore of the choke. When the valve head 29 is also closed, this completely closes off the pressure chamber IS. A bleeder duct 33 is formed in the wall of the lead 01f connection connecting the downstream sideof the valve IS with the chamber l9, and this bleeder can be opened or closed by a needle valve 34. Therefore, when the pressure on the downcause it to open. Then the wheel 32 may be turned to open the bore of the choke 2|, and the bleeder 33 closed'by needle valve 34 to place the device in operation.

In orderto efiect the closing of the main line automatic valve l1, there is provided a valve head 35 operated through a threaded stem 36 by handle 31 (see Fig. This valve head controls the opening of a duct 38 which leads to a pipe 39 connected to one of the ducts 23, to increase the flow past the valve l1 and thereby cause automatic valve to close when handle 31 is turned. In the wall of the upright portion l2 there is formed a bleeder duct 4||,'which, is similar in structure and operation to bleeder 33, and

is controlled by needle valve 4|. Automatic valve a stream side is permitted by these means to bleed I! can therefore beopened by closing oii both chambers I9, as explained above, and permitting pressure to bleed from the downstream side of the valve into the space above.

It will be seen that I have produced an aidcient manually operable means for opening or closing my automatic valves in an oil well structure such as a Christmas tree. By means of this invention, any one of the lead of! lines, or the well itself, may be closed off at will to permit repairs, replacements, etc., and at the same time the automatic valves are left in condition to be rendered operative whenever desired. I do not wish to be limited to the specific form described herein, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the respective parts are all in substantially the same relation in the structure just described, and have kept from rotating about its axis by a pin 49 set I in the inner end of the plug 43. Atits end remote from the stem the yoke 48 has a valve unseating projection 50.

It will be seen that when the valve I8 is closed it may be quickly and positively opened by rotating the stem 45 until the projection!!! contacts the valve and unseats it.

In Fig. 6 also, the needle valve 5|, instead of being set in the flange of the fltting as shown in Fig. 3, is set in the main body portion of the fitting-and at an angle to the axis of the incoming line. This makes for. a more convenient and compact construction, although the function of the needle valve remains the same.

I claim: 1..In a device of the class described, a flo pipe, an automatic cut-oil valve responsive to fluid velocity in said pipe, manually operative means for effecting an increase in fluid velocity to close said valve, and additional manually operative means to equalize the pressure on the up stream and. downstream sides of said valve to open the valve.

' 2. In a device of the class described, a flow pipe, an automatic cut-oil valve responsive to fluid velocity in said pipe, an obstruction in the pipe on the downstream side of the valve, and manually operative means for effecting closure of said valve, said meanscomprising ducts for bypassing said obstruction.

3. In a device of the class described, a flow pipe, an automatic cut-ofi' valve responsive to fluid velocity in said pipe, an obstruction in the pipe on the downstream side of the valve, and manually operative means for effecting closure of said valve, said means comprising ducts for by-passing said obstruction, and additional means for causing said valve to open, said means comprising a bleeder duct to equalize pressure be- .tween the upstream and downstream sides of the valve.

4. In a device of the class described, a flow pipe, an automatic cut-oil? valve responsive to fluid velocity in said pipe, a choke in said pipe on the downstream side of said valve, a duct bypassing the choke, a manually operative valve controlling said duct and with said duct con-, stituting means to increase the fluid velocity through and thereby close said valve, and additional .means to open said velocity-responsive valve, comprising a bleeder duct with a manually operative valve to equalize pressure between the downstream and the upstream side of said velocity-responsive valve. 7

5. In a device of the class described, a flow pipe, an automatic cut-off valve responsive to fluid velocity in said pipe, a choke in said pipe on the downstream side of said valve, a duct bypassing said choke, a manually operative valve in said duct and with said duct constituting means for increasing the velocity through and thereby closing said velocity-responsive valve, additional means for causing said velocity-responsive valve to open comprising a needle valve for closing said choke which forms when closed and when the duct valve is closed a closed compartment on the downstream side of the velocity-responsive valves in each of said lead-01f pipes, said lastmentioned valves being set to close under less velocity than said first-mentioned valve, separate manually operative means on each pipe to cause its valve to close by increasing the flow therethrough, and additional manually operative means on each pipe to cause its valve to open by equalizing the pressure on the downstream and the upstream side. 7

7. In combination, a main supply conduit, branch conduits leading therefrom, a normally 'open valve in each of said conduits adapted to be closed by an excessive velocity of flow in said respective conduits, and means for effecting an increase in velocity of flow through any one of said valves to cause it to close without closing any of the other of said valves. 1

8. In combination, a main supply. conduit, branch conduits leading therefrom, a normally open valve in each of said conduits adapted to be closed by an excessive velocity of flow in said respective conduits, the valve in said main conduit being adapted to permit a greater flow than the other valves without closing, and means for effecting an increase in velocity of flow through said main conduit valve to cause it to close withsaid other valves.

9. In combination, a main supply conduit,

out causing an increase in flow through any of.

branch conduits leading therefrom, a normally open valve in each of said conduits adapted to be closed by an excessive velocity of flow in said respective conduits, the valve in said main conduit being adapted to permits, greater flow than the other valves without closing, and means for effecting an' increase in they velocity of flow through one of said other valves to cause such other valve .to close without closing the valve in the main conduit. 10. In a device of the class described, a flow pipe, an automatic cutofl valve responsive to fluid velocity in said pipe to close when said fluid velocity exceeds a predetermined value, and mechanical means for positively engaging said valve when in closed position andmoving it to open position.

11. In a device of the class described, a flow pipe, an automatic cutoff valve responsive to fluid velocity in said pipe to close when said fluid velocity exceeds a predetermined value,

manually operative means for effecting an in crease in fluid velocity to close said valve, and

mechanical means for positively engaging said valve when in closed position and moving it to open position. I

mg]? L. BARKER. 

